Floor rack for refrigerator cars



6. D. BoNsALL FLOOR RACK FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Jan. 16, 1940.

5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed N0v`. 19, 1937 IMF 'Il l Jan. 16, 1940. c. D, BQNSALL 2,181,219

FLOOR RACK FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS FiledNov. 1s, 1957 s sheets-(sheet 2 Jan. 16, 1940. C, D, BQNSALL 2,187,219

FLOOR RACK FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Nov. 19, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Jan. 16, 1940. c, D. BQNSALL '1 2,187,219

FLOOR RACK FQR REFRIGERATOR QARS Filed Nov. 19, 195'? s sheets-sheet 4 frzz/efzfof? Jal 16 1940 c. D. aoNsALL 2,187,219

FLOOR RACK FOR REFRIGERATOR CARS Filed Nov. 19, 1957 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Jan." 17940 UNlTr-:D STATES `PA'113N'1 NOFFICE y y i r 12,187,219

FLoon RACK Fon nei-*moeizame CARS `CharlesIhlonsttlL Pittsburgh, Pa., assigner` to r. H.,Murphy` Company, New Kensington, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania 1 1 niiplicationynbvember19,1937, seriaiNmivafisi modities, such as vegetables;fruits berries, meats, 1 eggs, frozen sh, etc., and to maintainsuch coms g 1 ,5 modities while in transit Within `apredetermined range of` temperature, thus necessitating the use of a cooling means in the summer and a heating means infthe winter.` Ithas been found that perishable commoditieswhich have` not been a1- ",10 lowed to get too cold (freeze) or'too hot (bake) have a high market valuebecause they have a" longer storage life.

frigerant chamber and the ladingcompartment to cool `the lading inthe car (as hereinafter described). A foraminous floor supports lthe ladlperishable `lading to` coolit `and sometimes pulveiized ice is blown above and betweenthe lading to cool it. `Such ice upon melting drains to the fleor of `the car.

" melted ice to remain on theinsulated floor of the car below the foraminous iloor to produce further insulation between the `outside of 1the' car ,1,30 andthe 1air flues below the foraminous floor and also to furtherv cool` the circulating" air. The

melted ice ,(water) has a temperature `about 32 Fahrenheit whenno salt is used and as low as `1`14 Fahrenheit ,when 25%`: ,salt"is,.mixed1with "35 the lump ice, therefore, itcan effectively per- `form the two above mentioned functions. Sometimes this melted ice freezesagain and adheres i tothe foraminouslfloor supports, making it dinilcult to remove them.`1` ,1 1 .y

,40 An object of `theinvention is to provide a floor rack comprising a foraminous floor supported in spaced relation to the insulated oor of the car by a plurality of channel stringerswhich are so formed `as to facilitate` their removal from ice*` formed on vthe insulated floor.

, A further objectis` to formthe foraminous 1floor `supports so" as to minimize their1 resistance `to the flow `of circulating air by providing means for air to circulate through them.

In the drawingsr` Figs.1 1 `and 2 show therelationof 1niyimproved 1 floor rack to the other-elements `of a1 refrigeratorv Car.

inspacedrelation to the insulated floor of *Lump ieeis frequently placed on `top of, a

, @Figs 3, @and sliow the preferred form` of 55 my `invention `wherein the `fioorl'rack comprises Aa fperforatedmetallic plate supported by per- 1.forated channel shape stringers.

plate `havingdepending marginal flanges engag- 1 `ing the floorof `the car.

. Figs. *to 161inclusive show a1 modification wherein the door rack comprises a perforated 1i)` r metallic plate` supported by crossbeams having 1 ,1 r depending feet engaging the floor of vthe car. In a refrigerator car water, ice is associated" with certaingelements of the car to establish a r convection `circulation of air between the re` In the form of my invention illustrated the refrigerator `car is provided with a bulkhead 2 l separatingthe refrigerant chamber 3 `from the 1j lading compartment 4; The bulkhead 2 is ,pro-

yvidedwith an aperture 5 adjacentfthe floor 6 of `the car and an aperture 'I adjacent the "Ceiling 8 of the car with a solid wall 9 therebetween.

1 Arefrigerant is `supported by the ice support- 20 .i

' from the end wall I4 and bulkhead 2 to provide` 1 1 1 the fiues IS--IL The aperturedY floor rack, or 25 It" is desirable` to allow at least some ofthe foraminous floor, supports the lading so as to provide the space which communicates with the fluesmII--I1. A refrlgeranhsuch as` iceV in the refrigerant chamber, `induces a convection circulation of air from the lues IS-Il, through the flue space `20 and the apertures 2| in the floor rack, and as thewair is warmed by the lading, it rises and passes through the bulkhead upper `opening 1 andthence through the flues IE5-Il, and being 1cooled by the refrigerant, repeats the 35 convection cycle. r 1 i `When a stove orcther heater is placed in the refrigerant `chamber a` convection circulation of .1

` air is induced in the opposite direction because ,cooled by the lading.` Y

Figs. 3, 4 `and 5 show a floorwrack comprising a metallic 'plate 25 provided with a `plurality`o f` apertures12lwhich are supported uponthe floor 6 of the car by a plurality of substantially parallel channel shape stringers. `The lower portions of 1 thesestringers have solid bottom` `(26), side(2l) andend walls (28) forming a closed construction ,to prevent thewater from the melted ice, getting into vthe channel of the channel `section where itV might freeze making it diilicultto `raise the floor rack.fThe A.side walls"21 of the channel' shapestringers preferablyconverge toward the bottoms26 of the strngers'lto facilitate their removal from ice formed on the insulated floor.v

Theside Walls 21 ofthe channel shape stringers are provided with apertures 30 and also the metallic plate 25 above the channel shape stringers are provided with apertures 2| so that air may move lfrom the` spaces below the iloor rack to the lading compartment 4 above the oor rack.

Air also moves from the spaces above (4)*'and below (20) the floor rack, respectively, through the apertures 2l in the metallic plate 25.

vThe channel shape stringers are preferably positioned parallel to the movement of the circulatf ing air. However, if the stringers` extend across the direction of movement -of air the apertures 30 would be made large enough not to retard such `movement of air.

In practice the channel shape stringers are preferably made of a metallic plate pressed to the form illustrated and the ends are closed by the solid stiffeners 28 (see Fig. 5) which extend -between and are secured to the opposite wallsv 2l--2ly of the channels. These `members not only act as closure elements but also providestiffeners between the opposite sides of the channel. They preferably do not extend above the bottom of the apertures 30 so as not to interfere with the movement of air lengthwise through the channel stringers. The metallic plate' 25 maybe welded or otherwise secured to the strlngers.'`

i Fig, 6 shows a modification wherein the foraminous floor comprises a perforated metallic sheet formed with upper (32) and lower (33) portions in spaced apart parallel planes connected by `Webs 34 with the lower portions 33 thereof rest-v ing upon and preferably secured to anges 35 on the channel shape stringers. These flanges 35 are preferably bent upwardly between the webs 34 to engage and support the upper portions 32 of the metallic sheet, thereby strengthening them as l beams and stiifeners between adjacent stringers.

yengaging the oor 6.

nected by webs 59.

` Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show a modification wherein the floor rack comprises a perforated metallic plate 40 with depending marginal anges 4l,

which flanges are rebent to form channel feet Afor the webs 46 and lower portions 45 and extending downwardly and outwardly (5l) at each end thereof and welded to one or both (5253) yside walls 54-55 of both of the marginal flanges.

`Such a construction offersvery little vresistance `to movement of circulating air.

Figs. 10 to 14 inclusive show a modification Vwherein the foraminous iloorcomprises a metallic plate 56 formed with up'per (5l) and lower (58) portions' in substantially parallel planes con- These plates are provided with marginal flanges 60 preferably secured together lfor cooperation therebetween. "Ihe cross beams or supports 62 comprise a metallic plate Vformed with channel feet 63 at each end thereof which are closed to form bucket shaped feet by the use of the element 64 shown particularly in Fig. y13. `The right hand' of Fig. 13 shows this 4element 64 omitted. Fig. v12shows the metallic plate V56 in position ,to belowered to engage Ithe cross beams 62Mshown in Fig. 13. Fig. 14 is an end view ofthe cross beam 62 an'd also shows part `of the metallic plate 5B. `formation and the walls thereof are tapered for The stiffening element 42 The bucket is of closed the purpose heretofore set forth,

Figs. 15 and 16 show a modification wherein the upper flanges l0 of the stringer 'H are provided with upturned portions 'l2 which engage the webs 34 of the foraminous floor to resist the tendency of the foraminous floor to shift in a horizontal plane relative to the stringers, and to prevent the vwebs 34 from deflecting under vertical load. The flanges 'lli also extend upwardly to provide a support 14 for the upper portions 32 of the foraminous fioor. Both the upper por- `tions 32 and the lower portions 33 are preferably secured to the stringer to restrain the ends of the beams.

Figs. 15 and 16 also show a wooden I8 or other insulatingmember. secured to the lower portion 7S of `the stringer by bolts 80 to act as a heat insulation to prevent heattransferthrough the stringer. 'These wooden blocks vI8 also provide means of adjusting the vertical height of the stringer.

Vpositioned so that the melted ice will drain upon` the insulated floor, said foraminous floor being supported upon said insulated floor by a plurality of channel shaped stringers, each comprising spaced apart side walls connected by a substantially plane web which rests upon said insulated oor, said web and the lower portion of said walls being imperforate to prevent the melted ice from entering the channel and the upper portion of the walls of each of said channel stringers being perforated for air movement from said space through the stringer to the space above the foraminous floor. Y

2. A structure as 'defined in claim 1 wherein the said side walls of the stringers converge toward the bottoms of the stringers to facilitate removal thereof from ice formed on the insulated floor. l

3. In a refrigerator car having an insulated floor, a foraminous Iioor above the insulated floor, a space between said floors and ice associated with elements of the car to induce an air current in said space upon melting thereof, said ice being positioned so that the melted ice will drain upon the insulated floor, said foraminous floor being supported upon said insulated floor by a plurality of channel stringers with solid stiffeners extending between and secured to the-'opposite walls of the channels and positioned to prevent the melted ice from entering the channel, the upper portion of eachA of said channel stringers being perforated for air movement from said space through the stringer tothe space above the foraminous oor.

4. In a refrigerator car having an insulated floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor, a space between said floors and ice associated `with elements of the car'to induce an air current lin said space upon melting thereof, said ice being 75 Fig. 16 is a section through line lli- I6 of Fig. l5 with the foraminous floor omitted.

the insulated door, said foraminous floor comprising a perforatedmetallic sheet formed with upper and lower portions in spaced apart paralconnected by a substantially `plane web which rests upon said insulated oor, and the upper por- .tions of the side walls of the stringers being per-` to resist the tendency of the foraminous floor forated.

5. In a refrigerator car having an insulated floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor, a space between said iioors and ice associated with elements of the carto induce an air current in said space uponv melting thereof, said ice being positioned so that the melted ice will drain upon the insulated iioorsaid fora-minous floor com prising a perforated metallic sheetlforrned with p upper and lower portions in spaced apart parallel planes connected by substantially vertical webs, and a plurality of cliannelshaped stringers extending normally to `said Webs, said channel stringers provided with horizontal iianges which f `are substantially sinuous to support and are seand lower portionsv of i cured to both of the upper said metallic sheet. i i

6. In a refrigerator car having an insulated i floor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor,

a space between said floors. and a refrigerant positioned so that the melted ice will drainupon associated with elements of the car to induce an air current in said space upon melting thereof,

said foraminous floor comprising a` perforated.

' metallic sheet formed with upper and lower porlel planes connected by Webs, anda plurality `of channel shaped stringers extending normally` to said webs comprising spaced-apart side Walls tions in spaced apart parallel planes connected by substantially vertical webs and a plurality of channel shaped stringers extending normally to said webs, said channel stringere provided with horizontal anges `provided with substantially Vertical upturned` portions engaging said Webs to move in a horizontal plane.

7. In a, refrigerator car having an insulated iloor, a foraminous floor above the insulated floor,

a` space between said floors and a refrigerant associated with elements of the car to induce an air current in said space upon melting thereof,

said iorarninous oorycomprising aV perforated metallic sheet formed with upper and lower portions in spaced apart parallel` planes connected by substantially Vertical webs and a plurality of channel shaped stringere extending normally to said webs, said channel stringers provided with horizontal flanges provided with substantially vertical upturned portions engaging said webs to resist the tendency of the foraminous floor to move `in a `horizontal plane, said anges also formed to support said upper portions.

` r` .CHARLES D. BONSALL.`

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,187,219. January 16, 19LLO.

lCHARLES D BONSALL.

It is hereby certified thatthe above numbered patent was erroneously r issued to P. H. 4 Murphy Company, of New Kensington, Pennsylvania, a corporation of Pennsylvania, whereas said patent should have been issued to 'Standard Railway Vquipme'lfxt Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Dela-v ware, as assignee by mesne assignments of the entire interest therein,

as shown by the record of assignments in this office; and that the said Letters Patent should'be read with this correction therein that the shame may conf'ormto the record of the case in' the Patent Office.

Signed, and sealed this 12th day of March, A. D. 19110.

Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents; 

